Australian White Ibis
Threskiornis molucca
The Australian White Ibis is closely related to the Sacred Ibis and other similar birds around the world. They range from common to rare across Australia and Papua New Guinea and will on rare occasions make it over to New Zealand. They are very common in Sydney, where they are known colloquially as Swamp Chooks or Bin Chickens, on account of their rummaging through the bins in parks. The adults have bald heads while the young (picture 3) have some feathering that disappears over time as they mature.
These birds are being monitored to establish population and movement of the species in NSW and ringed or tagged birds can often be found. The earlier ringing system would have a unique metal tag with a number and a coloured tag depending on where the bird was ringed, while later systems have another pair of rings that enables a single bird to be identified without having to read the number. Trials are being carried out on wing tags, which give the highest visibility.
1 and 5: Centennial Park, Sydney, 28/02/2010
2: Lake Northam, Victoria Park, Sydney, 26/11/2009.
3: Royal Botanical Gerdens, Sydney, 05/09/2010.
4: Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney, 06/12/2009.